Early Tuesday post this week. I need to share my morning with you. I'm not sure how many of you have kids, but I think the message applies to anyone with a busy or unpredictable schedule.
Lately, my toddler has been sleeping in a big girl bed. While this is fantastic and exercises her independence, she's become extra... well... independent. She wakes up early and demands that we join her. Normally, a 7:00 wake-up call would be something I could get used to, but my hubby hasn't been sleeping well lately and I'm still getting over pregnancy exhaustion.
Still, as long as my girl has a sippy cup of milk and a movie playing, she's pretty happy. So I pulled out my book to get some editing in. I got three pages done before she decided she wanted to "color" too. I gave her a blank sheet of paper and a pen, reminding her to only color on paper.
I didn't finish the page I was on before she started drawing on herself. Of course, I took the pen away. Now she has to sit right next to me while she watches her movie. No paper allowed. No pens. No books. For some reason the computer's okay though.
So, I'll count this morning as a small victory. I got something done (and found some stiff dialogue and some places that need more description and emotion). Good stuff. I'll finish the day's work when my little girl goes down for a nap.
The small stuff counts. It's still progress. If I waited until I had a huge chunk of time, I'd never get anything done. Big chunks of time are hardly ever planned anyway. I usually sit down for what I think will only be twenty minutes and am pleasantly surprised that I managed to write for an hour and a half before ... the baby wakes up, the husband gets home, the rain lets up, the dog needs a walk, or whatever.
Move forward as OFTEN as you can!
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6 comments:
Every little bit helps. It's amazing how busy we all are, but still manage to write a few things.
Yes! I have 3 small ones (5 years old and under) and it was hard for me to get used to the fact that I couldn't just go into The Zone for hours and hours to write. I still have evenings and afternoon Quiet Times, but I've also learned to use smaller blocks of time. I brainstorm while doing dishes, I map out stories while watching the kids play in the yard.
(Btw, I'm in HTTS and HTRYN and found your blog through there. It's always lovely to meet other mom writers. Hello!)
Don't you love the writing community? We always find things in common besides writing.
(It's funny that it works out that way. Writers really are a different breed.)
I'd happily take any tips from a more experienced writer mom. :) Thanks!
I think the best advice I can give is, This too shall pass! It's easy to think that you will always be pregnant and uncomfortable; that your baby will never sleep through the night; that your toddler will never learn to play by herself without interrupting you every five minutes. But you do get through those stages and things do get better. :)
Too true. I remember those first two months. I wondered if I'd ever sleep again. But now, I sleep a full 8 hours most nights.
Guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Or I just like cute, cuddly little babies :)
LOL. If you're a glutton for punishment, then I'm one two times over! I have to say, the first baby was by far the most difficult. I had no clue what I was doing and I bet he picked up on my stress. My other two were more laidback (they had to be!) and while they went through their own rough patches, I rolled with it a lot better.
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